Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' Album Will Pay Tribute To Mac Miller

posted by Emily Lee -

Dec 5, 2018

In a new profile, Ariana Grande opened up about how her music is helping her find her way through unimaginable tragedy. In the wake of her close friend, frequent collaborator, and ex-boyfriend Mac Miller's death, the 25-year-old pop star has turned to her work for peace and healing. She's already mentioned Mac in the lyrics of her massively successful single "thank u, next" and will continue to honor him on her upcoming album.

When speaking about the upcoming thank u, next album, Ari described it as a product of "feminine energy and champagne and music and laughter and crying" however, it's "not particularly uplifting." While the overall sound is "really upbeat" the music was ultimately born from "a super sad chapter."

Ari and Mac formed a special bond early in their career. Ari even credits their first collaboration on "The Way" way back in 2013 as the moment she really discovered her sound. "When we made ‘The Way,’ I was like, ‘Oh, wow, I’m onto something here,’" she said. "It felt like, ‘I should do this forever.’" Ariana then played a new song for Natalie Weiner, the writer of the profile, who confirms it's about Mac.

Ari admits that she'll be grappling with another significant heartbreak on the thank u, next album: her broken engagement with Pete Davidson. She revealed she sent Pete the song ahead of its drop, saying, "I wasn't going to blindside anybody." Despite their breakup, Ari has no regrets about naming a track on sweetener "Pete Davidson," assuring everybody she still loves all her songs.

As for anybody out there who tries to shade her for her high profile romances? Well. Ari has some choice words for them. "This is how I meet people -- I can’t just, like, meet someone at a bar," she says. "I live fast and full-out, and I make mistakes, and I learn from them and I’m grateful no matter what happens." She went on to say, "I don’t really care about being a clickbait feast or a media wet dream. I’m just happy to still be here, really."

Despite the outsize amount of tragedies she's experienced over the past two years, Ari has no plans to slow down. "I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of the artist I can be, and I just want to keep growing and practicing and getting better," she says. “I never want to get lazy.”